In addition, working with the Member States and European Asylum Support Office (EASO), the Commission will give further guidance to improve standards on reception conditions and asylum procedures to provide Member States with well-defined and simple quality indicators, and reinforcing protection of the fundamental rights of asylum-seekers, paying particular attention to the needs of vulnerable groups, such as children.

In addition, working with the Member States and European Asylum Support Office (EASO), the Commission will give further guidance to improve standards on reception conditions and asylum procedures to provide Member States with well-defined and simple quality indicators, and reinforcing protection of the fundamental rights of asylum-seekers, paying particular attention to the needs of vulnerable groups, such as children.

17. Commends the Ombudsman for his work in promoting human rights, his openness towards vulnerable people and his cooperation with civil society organisations; deplores the fact that the Ombudsman’s annual and special reports have not been debated in the Parliament, and therefore cannot be published and are not officially acknowledged; urges the Government and the Parliament to improve cooperation with the office of the Ombudsman; deplores the fact that, so far, the Ombudsman has not regularly been informed or consulted by the Government in a timely manner on relevant draft legislation; notes with concern that the budget allocated to ...[+++] the Ombudsman’s office remains insufficient and has been further reduced; underlines the fact that the institution needs further financial and political support from both the Parliament and the Government in order to continue carrying out its duties; calls for a broad awareness campaign to highlight the role and importance of the institution;

17. Commends the Ombudsman for his work in promoting human rights, his openness towards vulnerable people and his cooperation with civil society organisations; deplores the fact that the Ombudsman’s annual and special reports have not been debated in the Parliament, and therefore cannot be published and are not officially acknowledged; urges the Government and the Parliament to improve cooperation with the office of the Ombudsman; deplores the fact that, so far, the Ombudsman has not regularly been informed or consulted by the Government in a timely manner on relevant draft legislation; notes with concern that the budget allocated to ...[+++] the Ombudsman’s office remains insufficient and has been further reduced; underlines the fact that the institution needs further financial and political support from both the Parliament and the Government in order to continue carrying out its duties; calls for a broad awareness campaign to highlight the role and importance of the institution;

is concerned by recent criticism of the work of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights; calls on the EU Member States to support the Office, especially in the Fifth Committee of the General Assembly, so as to ensure that there is no interference with the independence of the Office and that the Office is granted all the financial resources needed to enable it to carry out its mandate; calls on EU Member States to closely monitor the current procedure for the appointment of the new High Commissioner, given that the mandate of the previous incumbent, Louise Arbor, expired in June 2008,

– Mr President, I congratulate the Commission and the team led in the Commissioner's office by Mr Fotiadis and those on the ground for the amazing work they are carrying out.